Artel

(dated September 2010)

1. Name of Group
The name of the group shall be artel - contemporary art and artists in Chichester, to be known as artel.
Artel is a Chichester based group of contemporary artists who support each others’ practice, meet monthly and organise one or more joint exhibitions annually.
2. Aims
a. To foster a dynamic and forward looking artistic community in Chichester, creating opportunities for dialogue and the exchange of new ideas through exhibitions of contemporary art and discussions.
b. To actively work toward raising the profile of contemporary visual arts in Chichester and surrounding regions.
c. To provide mutual artistic support within the group.
3. Membership
3.1 Initial Membership
The initial membership of artel will be comprised of the members from the dissolved company Artel Studio Trust.
3.2 New member
a. New members are invited to submit their application before a date in September to be specified by the Committee.
b. New members will be selected on a majority vote at the subsequent monthly meeting.
c. Full time students are not eligible to be members.
d. The selection criteria for joining artel will depend on:
i) The type of work; This must be broadly classified as ‘visual art’ or ‘fine art’ and will not entail manufacture or batch-production methods for retail.
ii) Although not stylistically led, the group is likely to favour art that is contemporary and forward looking.
iii) Professionalism and commitment; It is not expected that members will make their living entirely from their art, but should aspire to this.
iv) Dynamics of the artel group itself.
3.3 Members
a. Members are expected to:
i) Support artel’s aims (above).
ii) Partake in at least 50% of monthly meetings and vote on policy.
iii) Be actively involved with the running of artel’s activities
iv) Communicate with other members via e-mail and for other members to have your contact details.
v) Pay annual membership subscription promptly before 30th September.
vi) Ensure their personal information and images on the artel website are kept updated.
b. Non-attendance, communication or involvement in any artel activities for a year will terminate continuing membership by default.
3.4 Sabbatical members:
a. After a membership of 2 years, an application can be made for a 1 year sabbatical. This may be for the completion of a MA or other course of study, or a special project or for personal reasons.
b. Members on sabbatical will pay a nominal fee of £10 to keep their membership open. This is due before 30th September.
c. Their information will remain on the website; it will be annotated “On Sabbatical”, but otherwise not updated.
d. They will not participate in any meetings, decision making or exhibition during the period of their Sabbatical.
e. If they wish, they can be put on the e-mailing list for general meeting and AGM minutes.
f. Members requesting a longer period of absence must leave and reapply for membership.
g. On return from sabbatical there is no guarantee of inclusion in projects already up and running.
3.5 Honorary Members
a. Artel shall retain the right to confer Honorary Membership to any person, at the discretion of the committee, in recognition of services to artel.
b. Honorary members shall enjoy the same rights and obligations as full members.

4. Management Committee
a. The management of artel shall be vested in a committee of three, which shall consist of the following officers who will be elected annually at the AGM or, exceptionally, at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM):
i) Chairperson
ii) Secretary
iii) Treasurer
b. A committee member cannot be re-instated in the same post for more than 3 years continuously.
c. The Committee has the authority to co-opt members on to it, for the purposes of obtaining additional skills, knowledge, or effort.
d. Two committee members shall be deemed a quorum.
e. The responsibilities of the members of the committee are as follows:

4.1 Chairperson
a. Overall management of committee and affairs of the group.
b. Takes the lead at monthly meetings or delegates to another committee member.
c. Co-signer of cheques.
d. Seeks and maintains an ongoing programme of artel exhibitions and events
e. Investigates additional funding for group activities.
f. Maintains a list of Honorary Friends to invite to exhibitions and events.

4.2 Secretary
a. Takes or supervises the taking and issuing of monthly meeting minutes.
b. Reminds Chairperson of matters to be raised at meetings i.e. Actions carried forward, annual matters such as new membership etc.
c. Sets up monthly venue and agenda together with the Chairperson and informs group.
d. Prepares applications from new members for group approval.
e. Organises new membership details for the artel website.
f. Keeps an overview of the artel website and ensures currency of information displayed.
g. Co-signer of cheques.

4.3 Treasurer
a. Maintains records of monies paid and received.
b. Advises committee on financial matters for ongoing and future projects.
c. Keeps record of group held properties (e.g. slide projector, frames, etc).
d. Prepares an annual statement for July AGM of financial incoming, and outgoings (co-signed by an impartial non committee member).
e. Prior to the July AGM, prepare for the Committee a budget proposal for the following year, in order that the membership subscription can be accordingly calculated.
f. Responsible for the annual collection of members and sabbatical subscriptions.
g. Advises committee of any additional payments required throughout the year when there is a shortfall in the budget.
h. Arranges appropriate public liability insurance.
i. Co-signer of cheques.

5. Voting rights
a. Fully paid up members, and honorary members, shall be entitled to equal voting rights. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairman shall have an additional casting vote.
b. A quorum of 50% of full members is required for voting in new members, committee members or any proposals for changes to the Constitution.

6. Annual General Meeting/Extraordinary General Meetings
a. The Annual General Meeting shall be held every July.
b. The Committee, or 50% of the full members, may call an Extraordinary General Meeting, at their discretion.
c. For AGM or EGM:
1. A minimum of fourteen days notice shall be given to all members.
2. Nominations for the committee are to be lodged with the Secretary a minimum of seven days before the AGM or EGM.
3. The Committee may, at its discretion, arrange for members who are unable to be present to vote by proxy.
4. 50% of membership voting in person and by proxy shall be deemed a quorum.
5. If there isn’t a quorum the meeting will be adjourned to be reconvened the same time and day in the following week when members present and by proxy will form a quorum.

7. Meetings
a. Meetings shall be held monthly on the first week of each month at a date, time and place as the Committee shall direct.
b. Members are expected to attend for a minimum of 50% of these meetings.
c. The day of the meetings rotates through the week. (i.e. if the September meeting is held on the first Monday of the month, the October meeting will be on the first Tuesday of the month and the November meeting on the first Wednesday). There will not normally be a Friday meeting.
d. Members are expected to inform the Secretary in advance if they are unable to attend a meeting.
e. The December meeting is usually a Christmas social.
f. There are no meetings in August.
g. Venues for each meeting will vary and will be announced in the previous month’s minutes or with the monthly agenda which will be issued the preceding week.
h. Artel will strive for accessible meeting places and if there are special needs will always hope to meet them.

8. Events and Exhibitions

a. All events, exhibitions or expenditure are to be approved by the Committee before any commitment is made.
b. All members are expected to assist the Committee when requested and where necessary, and to play an active part in the organisation and administrative duties in the running of events and exhibitions.
c. Members other than the Committee may be co-opted to take the lead in organising events and exhibitions.

9. Subscriptions
a. The annual membership fee is £35.00 (or an amount as determined by the Committee and proposed at the AGM).
b. This is due by 30th September and renewable annually.
c. Late payment after 30th September will incur a surcharge of £5.
d. If the subscription is unpaid by 1st November the membership shall automatically lapse.
e. If further funds are required for additional activities not foreseen or accounted for in the budget presented at the AGM, an EGM will be called to agree an additional levy from every member.

10. Annual Accounts
At the AGM the Treasurer shall produce accounts for approval.

11. Financial Control
a. The banking account shall be in the name of the group for all monies.
b. Withdrawals shall be made on the signatures of two of the three nominated Committee members, who shall be agreed and minuted by the Committee.
c. No member can make a commitment which would cause debt.

12. Constitutional Matters
a. Any matter not provided for in this constitution shall be dealt with by the Committee, in accordance with the requirement of this constitution, and whose decisions shall be deemed final.
b. The Committee shall be the final authority for the interpretation of this constitution.
c. This constitution may only be altered by resolution at an AGM or EGM: the resolution to be passed by at least a two thirds majority of the members voting.
d. This constitution supersedes any previous constitution or table of rules controlling the group.

13. Data Protection
a. Artel is a not for profit organisation and, therefore, not required to register under the Data Protection Act. Names and addresses of members are maintained on a data base for the purposes of artel only.
b. The use of the artel name and website must be formally agreed by the committee as must all exhibitions using the artel name.

14. Friends
a. Artel shall maintain an e-mail contact list of Friends, at the discretion of the committee, in recognition of their services or other association with artel.
b. This list will be reviewed annually.
c. Friends will be sent invitations to private views and social events.

15. Dissolution
In the event that artel be wound up, a financial statement shall be prepared by the Treasurer with the approval of an impartial non committee member who has the necessary capabilities. Any funds received for specific projects shall either be returned to the body making the grant or given to a charity that benefits local artists. The remaining funds will be shared amongst all the paid-up members at the time of dissolution.